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Bringing a dog from the United Kingdom to New Zealand
Sources disagree: New Zealand is mid-transition: MPI's 2026 Import Health Standard applies from 1 July 2026, both the 2021 and 2026 standards are accepted until 31 March 2027, and from 1 April 2027 an official-vet ID check completed at least 6 months before export becomes mandatory. If your shipment is near those dates, confirm with MPI or your transporter which standard your paperwork should follow.
Until officials align, follow the stricter reading and confirm with the destination authority.
Step-by-step checklist
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| Residency & eligibility | Your dog must have lived continuously in the UK (or another categorised country) for the 6 months before shipment, be over 9 months old at shipment, and — if female — no more than 42 days pregnant. | Checked at application |
| Microchip | Microchip in place before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination and the titer blood draw. The number must appear on every document. In the UK, all of this is done through an official vet (OV) under the export health certificate process. | Before anything else |
| Rabies vaccination | The primary vaccination must fall 6–12 months before shipment and have been given at 3 months of age or older; a booster, if given, must be within 1 year before shipment. Keep vaccination valid continuously from the titer test to shipment. | 6–12 months before shipment |
| RNATT titer test | FAVN or RFFIT, 0.5 IU/ml or higher, with the blood sample taken 3–24 months before shipment. You also need an official veterinary declaration for the result, endorsed by the UK competent authority. | 3–24 months before shipment |
| Import permit | Apply to MPI at least 20 business days before you need the permit — earlier is safer. The permit ties the quarantine booking and the arrival inspection together. | At least 20 business days ahead |
| Dog disease panel and parasite treatments | Dogs need tests and treatments cats do not: heartworm treatment plus a negative ELISA test; Babesia gibsoni testing (a diagnosed dog is ineligible); Brucella canis testing (a diagnosed dog is ineligible); and leptospirosis covered by a doxycycline course or a MAT test. Plus two internal parasite treatments (the first within 30 days and at least 2 weeks before the second; the second within 4 days of shipment) and two external treatments (the second within 2 days). | Final 30 days, per test windows |
| Certificates A & B + final exam | Veterinary Certificates A and B completed by your official vet and endorsed by the UK competent authority. Final examination within 2 days before shipment. Contact MPI at least 72 hours before travel to arrange the arrival inspection. | Final 2 days |
Your preparation timeline
- 1~6 months out — Rabies vaccination inside its 6–12-month window; microchip check
- 2Months 6–3 — RNATT blood draw inside the 3–24-month window; endorsed declaration
- 31–2 months out — MPI import permit application (at least 20 business days)
- 4Final 30 days — Dog disease panel and parasite treatment schedule
- 5Final 2 days — Certificates A & B endorsed; final vet exam
- 6Arrival — Border inspection, then at least 10 days in an MPI-approved quarantine facility
Costs you can plan for
Official MPI charges (NZD): import permit NZ$268.24 including GST; border inspection NZ$374.05 including GST for the first animal (NZ$124.68 each additional); veterinary monitoring at the quarantine facility NZ$249.37/hour including GST, plus the facility's own boarding charges, which MPI does not publish. On the UK side, your official vet's fees for the tests, certificates and endorsement are set by the practice — GOV.UK publishes no official price.
Questions people ask about this route
Why does my dog need to be over 9 months old?
It is a Category 3 eligibility rule: dogs (and cats) must be more than 9 months old at shipment, have lived in the exporting country for the previous 6 months, and females may be no more than 42 days pregnant.
Are any dog breeds banned in New Zealand?
Yes: Brazilian Fila, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, Presa Canario and Pit Bull types, and all hybrid dogs, may not be imported.
Is quarantine really mandatory?
Yes — at least 10 days in an MPI-approved facility for every Category 3 dog, however complete the paperwork. There is no home-quarantine option.
What changes in April 2027?
MPI's 2026 Import Health Standard becomes the only standard: among other changes, an identity check by official veterinarians at least 6 months before export becomes mandatory. If you are shipping near the changeover, confirm with MPI which standard your paperwork should follow.
Related guides
- Bringing a cat from the United Kingdom to New Zealand
- Rabies titer tests (FAVN / RNATT): validity and waiting periods by country
- How many days before travel do you need a pet health certificate?
- Pet quarantine by country: how long, where, and how to avoid it
- Microchip before or after rabies vaccination?
- How far in advance should you start preparing?
Official sources for this page
- GOV.UK — Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad
- NZ MPI — Country category finder for importing cats and dogs (UK = Category 3)
- NZ MPI — Bringing cats and dogs to NZ
We check each rule against the exporting country's official page and the destination country's official page. If the two disagree, we show the disagreement instead of guessing.
Want a professional to run this route for you?
Licensed pet relocation companies handle permits, vet paperwork and flights daily. We are adding vetted partners for this route — check back soon.